Seahawks' quarterback Russell Wilson has his way with Washington's defense. Seattle defeated Washington 27-17 during a Monday night game at Fed Ex Field in Landover, MD on Monday, October 6, 2014. courtesy of Annand photography

LANDOVER, MD - Another nationally televised home game, another chance to avoid embarrassment. Just one problem: the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks came to town.

Other than a DeSean Jackson 60-yard TD catch, the Seahawks ran circles around the Redskins on Monday night football in the first half en route to the 27-17 victory.

Before Jackson’s TD catch, the Redskins managed just 27 yards from scrimmage with three consecutive three and outs. The Skins could not manage a play from scrimmage on the Seahawks’ side of the field.

“When you’re backed up like that against a great defense, the odds are stacked against you,” said Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins.

Seahawks QB Russell Wilson took control starting from the opening drive, rushing for 45 yards on two carries to set up a 15-yard touchdown toss to Jermaine Kearse. Wilson would add 35 more yards to his rushing totals in the first quarter.

Wilson continued to show off his dual threat capabilities to tack on 10 more points before the halftime whistle, with a little help from wide receiver Percy Harvin. Harvin lined up as a running back alongside Wilson, and ran through the defensive backfield to the endzone, twice, in two consecutive plays. However, both Harvin touchdowns were nullified due to Seahawks penalties, meaning they had to settle for a field goal.

“Unfortunately touchdowns get called back. But it was extraordinary. He impacted so much of this game,” said Seahawks Head Coach Pete Carroll.

Wilson later added a seven-yard touchdown run, keeping the Redskins within two possessions after 30 minutes.

The Skins got momentum going with the first drive of the second half, driving all the way down to the Seahawks nine yard line before Cousins’ sneak was stopped on third and one. With the drive halted less than 30 feet from the promised land, the Skins had to settle for a Kai Forbath field goal to get within a touchdown.

RB Alfred Morris of Washington has tough time with the Seahawks' defense. Seattle defeated Washington 27-17 during a Monday night game at Fed Ex Field in Landover, MD on Monday, October 6, 2014. courtesy of Annand photography

No drive would last more than four plays after that field goal drive until the fourth quarter. The Seahawks were taking their time going down the field, eating up as much clock as possible, when it was 2nd and 20 from their 49 (after a holding call against the Seahawks’ offensive line nullified a third Harvin touchdown). Russell Wilson ran forward in the pocket and onto the line of scrimmage. His feet moved beyond the line of scrimmage, but it appeared that he kept the ball from crossing to the other side, ran back and threw a 19-yard pass to Luke Wilson. Washington challenged the play and the play was confirmed to be legal. Rule 8 Section 1 Article 2 of a legal forward pass states, “ If the ball, whether in player possession or loose, crosses the line of scrimmage, a forward pass is not permissible, regardless of whether the ball returns behind the line of scrimmage before the pass is thrown.”

“It looked it was clear from up in the box and looked like it was clear from the sideline,” said Redskins Head Coach Jay Gruden.

The Seahawks added even more frustration after converting on fourth and one with a fake field goal, and would add seven more points from a Wilson toss to Marshawn Lynch to finish the drive.

That left the Redskins needing two touchdowns with six and a half minutes to go. Kirk Cousins went to work, taking control of every play on the ensuing drive. Looking much more effective than he did two Thursdays ago against the Giants, Cousins went 7-11 on the drive for every one of the 80 yards, capped off with a six yard touchdown to Andre Roberts to make the score 24-17 with three and a half left.

The Seahawks played for possession in the end, chewing up yardage and clock to get a Steve Hauschka 40 yard field goal on the next to last play of the game to finally put the game out of reach for the now 1-4 Skins.

“We did a lot of good things tonight. We went toe-to-toe with them and there are still so many things that we are capable of doing better,” said Cousins.